Is an electrician licensed in Ontario, and how do you check?
Yes, at two levels. Under O. Reg. 570/05, no one may operate an electrical contracting business without an electrical contractor licence, and the Electrical Safety Authority says only contractors it has licensed may do electrical work for hire. The electricians themselves work in a compulsory trade: Electrician — Construction and Maintenance (309A) takes a Certificate of Qualification, a provisional certificate or a registered training agreement, plus a listing on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register.[1],[2],[3],[4]
How to check
Ask for the contractor's ECRA/ESA licence number: Ontario law requires a licensed electrical contractor to display it on its contracts, advertisements and business vehicles. Then look it up in ESA's Contractor Locator Tool, which searches by licence number, contractor name, phone number or location. To check the electrician doing the work, search the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register.[4],[5],[6],[7]
What Ontario's rules say
- Under O. Reg. 570/05, no one may operate an electrical contracting business in Ontario without an electrical contractor licence, and no one may take responsibility for electrical work on a contractor's behalf without a master electrician licence. Government of Ontario[1]
- The Electrical Safety Authority says only electrical contractors it has licensed may do electrical work for hire in Ontario; a licence is mandatory for every electrical contractor and master electrician, and applicants are screened against the Electricity Act and O. Reg. 570/05. Electrical Safety Authority[2]
- To be licensed, an electrical contractor must be a master electrician or employ one it has designated, carry public liability and property damage insurance of at least $2,000,000, and be registered with the WSIB if the law requires it to register. The designated master electrician plans and directly supervises the electrical work. Government of Ontario[8]
- A licensed electrical contractor must prominently display its licence number in all correspondence, contracts and advertisements, on its business vehicles, and wherever it communicates with the public. Government of Ontario[6]
- ESA's Contractor Locator Tool finds licensed electrical contractors by location, or by a contractor's name, licence number or phone number, and can filter the results by licence status. Electrical Safety Authority[7]
- Electrician — Construction and Maintenance is a compulsory trade: to practise it legally in Ontario, a person must hold a Certificate of Qualification, a Provisional Certificate of Qualification or a Registered Training Agreement, and must appear on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register. The certificate must be renewed to stay valid. Skilled Trades Ontario[4]
- Skilled Trades Ontario lists both Electrician — Construction and Maintenance (309A) and Electrician — Domestic and Rural (309C) as compulsory trades: to work in either legally, a person must be a registered apprentice or hold a Certificate of Qualification or a Provisional Certificate of Qualification. Skilled Trades Ontario[3]
- Almost all electrical work must be reported to the Electrical Safety Authority with a notification of work, and a building permit is not the same thing: you may need both. Electrical Safety Authority[9]
- A homeowner may do electrical work in their own home after filing a notification with ESA, but friends, family members or neighbours may not do it for them. Electrical Safety Authority[10]
Frequently asked questions
Does an electrician need a licence in Ontario?
Both the business and the worker do. An electrical contracting business needs an electrical contractor licence, which it can only hold if it is a master electrician or employs one it has designated. The people doing the wiring work in a compulsory trade, Electrician — Construction and Maintenance (309A) or Electrician — Domestic and Rural (309C).[1],[3],[8]
How do I check an electrical contractor's licence?
Look for the ECRA/ESA licence number on the contractor's truck, business card and estimate, then verify it in ESA's Contractor Locator Tool, which can also filter its results by licence status. When the job is done, ask for ESA's Certificate of Acceptance and keep it for your insurer.[5],[7]
Can I do my own electrical work in Ontario?
In your own home, yes: the licensing regulation does not cover work done by the owner or occupant of a dwelling. You must still file a notification with ESA before you start, and friends, family members or neighbours may not do the work for you.[10],[11]
Does electrical work need an ESA permit?
Almost all of it does. The Ontario Electrical Safety Code requires nearly every electrical job to be reported to ESA with a notification of work, often called a permit, and a building permit does not replace it: some projects need both.[9]
What is a master electrician?
A person licensed to take responsibility for electrical work on a contractor's behalf. Every licensed electrical contractor must be a master electrician or employ at least one it has designated, and that master electrician plans and directly supervises the electrical work.[1],[8]
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Sources
- Government of Ontario, O. Reg. 570/05: Licensing of Electrical Contractors and Master Electricians (Consolidation period: January 1, 2025 - e-Laws currency date (November 9, 2026)). Accessed November 12, 2026.
- Electrical Safety Authority, Apply for an Electrical Contractor Licence. Accessed November 12, 2026.
- Skilled Trades Ontario, Apprenticeship programs quick facts chart (Updated June 2026). Accessed November 12, 2026.
- Skilled Trades Ontario, Electrician — Construction and Maintenance (trade information). Accessed November 12, 2026.
- Electrical Safety Authority, Hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor. Accessed October 19, 2026.
- Government of Ontario, O. Reg. 570/05: Licensing of Electrical Contractors and Master Electricians (Consolidation period: January 1, 2025 - e-Laws currency date (November 9, 2026)). Accessed November 12, 2026.
- Electrical Safety Authority, Contractor Locator Tool. Accessed November 12, 2026.
- Government of Ontario, O. Reg. 570/05: Licensing of Electrical Contractors and Master Electricians (Consolidation period: January 1, 2025 - e-Laws currency date (November 9, 2026)). Accessed November 12, 2026.
- Electrical Safety Authority, Notifications and inspections. Accessed October 19, 2026.
- Electrical Safety Authority, Do-it-yourself (DIY) electrical work. Accessed October 19, 2026.
- Government of Ontario, O. Reg. 570/05: Licensing of Electrical Contractors and Master Electricians (Consolidation period: January 1, 2025 - e-Laws currency date (November 9, 2026)). Accessed November 12, 2026.
This guide restates what each source says; it is not legal advice. Rules change — the linked source is the authority.
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